HOUSTON -- Carlos Gomez collected his first two RBIs as an Astro with a fourth-inning tiebreaking single, while Collin McHugh danced around trouble all afternoon, stranding seven D-backs in seven innings to propel Houston to its 60th win and secure a series victory, 4-1, on Sunday at Minute Maid Park.

Evan Gattis added his 17th home run -- an opposite-field shot leading off the bottom of the fifth -- to give McHugh all the run support he needed to pick up his 13th win while scattering eight hits in seven innings of one-run ball. McHugh and teammate Dallas Keuchel are tied fo the most wins in the American League.

Chandler Rome is an associate reporter for MLB.com. Steve Gilbert is a reporter for MLB.com. Read his blog, Inside the D-backs, and follow him on Twitter @SteveGilbertMLB. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

Fiers fired up to make Astros debut

Newly acquired righty starts Tuesday vs. Rangers

Astros pitcher Mike Fiers discusses his preparation for his first start with the club after coming over in a trade from the Brewers

By Chandler Rome
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MLB.com |

HOUSTON -- Though the newest Astros pitcher comes to the clubhouse sporting a full beard, lockermate Dallas Keuchel shouldn't worry.

"I grew it out for a while about a month ago," new Astros pitcher Mike Fiers said Sunday. "I think I just got lazy at the time and I just let it go. I'll try to keep it somewhat tame here. I don't think it'll get as wild as Keuchel, even though he keeps it pretty groomed."

McCullers out to keep rolling against Rangers

7/29/15: Lance McCullers strikes out five, allowing five hits over seven innings of one-run ball against the Angels

By Cody Stavenhagen
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MLB.com |

Up-and-coming Astros rookie Lance McCullers duels with established Rangers veteran Colby Lewis on Monday night when the clubs begin a three-game series at Globe Life Park.

McCullers, 21, is one of only two Astros to allow one earned run or fewer in eight of 13 starts to open a career. The righty is coming off a start in which he allowed only one run in seven innings against the Angels.

Keuchel improves to 10-0 at home

After 44-pitch second inning, Astros ace stifles D-backs

8/1/15: Dallas Keuchel allows two runs on two hits while striking out eight batters over eight innings of work

By Chandler Rome
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MLB.com |

HOUSTON -- A 44-pitch second inning aside, Dallas Keuchel remained perfect at home during the Astros' 9-2 win against the D-backs on Saturday.

Keuchel's scoreless streak at Minute Maid Park came to an end in that frame at 15 1/3 innings and he uncharacteristically issued three walks, due he said to a little extra movement on his two-seam fastball.

HOUSTON -- Carlos Correa and Hank Conger each notched their first career multihomer games, while Astros ace Dallas Keuchel overcame control issues to earn his 13th win and improve to 10-0 at Minute Maid Park this season, snapping the D-backs' six-game winning streak with a 9-2 victory on Saturday night.

After depositing the first pitch of the third inning into the right-field bleachers, Conger padded a 3-2 Astros lead with his first career grand slam, capping a five-run fourth that chased D-backs starter Jeremy Hellickson. Correa, who snuck one just inside the left-field foul pole in the first, followed with a two-run shot in the sixth, giving him the American League lead in round-trippers among shortstops.

Chandler Rome is an associate reporter for MLB.com. Steve Gilbert is a reporter for MLB.com. Read his blog, Inside the D-backs, and follow him on Twitter @SteveGilbertMLB. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

Catching duo packing plenty of punch

Astros' Conger, Castro combine for 4 HRs in past 3 games

8/1/15: Hank Conger drives in five runs on two home runs, including a grand slam, to help lead the Astros to a 9-2 win vs. the D-backs

By Chandler Rome
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MLB.com |

HOUSTON -- To get a smile and a story out of Astros manager A.J. Hinch, mention one of two things -- Stanford or catchers.

The Cardinal alum and seven-year Major League backstop is partial to the position, even joking in the dugout during Saturday's 9-2 win over Arizona that a solid chunk of Houston's offensive power squats behind the plate.

Fiers set for Astros debut Tuesday

Club optioning Velasquez to make room; Deduno to have hip surgery Tuesday

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Luhnow on acquiring Gomez, Fiers 2:34

Astros GM Jeff Luhnow talks about acquiring Carlos Gomez and Mike Fiers from the Brewers in exchange for a package of prospects

By Chandler Rome
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MLB.com |

HOUSTON -- Though he still hadn't met Mike Fiers in person, Astros manager A.J. Hinch announced before Saturday's 9-2 win over the D-backs that Fiers -- acquired along with Carlos Gomez in Thursday's trade with the Brewers -- will start Tuesday against the Rangers in Arlington.

Fiers' fifth day of rest is Monday, but Hinch said he wants to give Fiers an extra day off so he can get acclimated to Houston, throw a bullpen session with Astros pitching coach Brent Strom and have his focus squarely on baseball.

Chandler Rome is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

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MLB.com Columnist

Jim Duquette

Duquette: Three biggest Deadline winners

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2015 Trade Deadline recap 5:04

As the 2015 Trade Deadline comes to a close, the MLB Tonight crew recaps the top trades around the league

By Jim Duquette
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MLB.com |

While the actual Deadline day didn't feature many high-profile moves, the last week has been filled with them. Now that the dust has settled, here are the three clubs that I think improved the most as a result of Trade Deadline deals.

Gomez puts tough Astros debut behind him

Center fielder goes 0-for-5, makes costly miscue in field

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Castillo's double 0:50

7/31/15: Carlos Gomez overruns Welington Castillo's fly ball in right-center, misplaying it into a double in the 6th inning

By Chandler Rome
/
MLB.com |

HOUSTON -- Though his Astros debut didn't go as planned, Carlos Gomez remained upbeat and smiling in the clubhouse following Friday night's 6-4, 10-inning defeat against the D-backs, even taking the blame for the loss, which snapped Houston's seven-game home winning streak.

Gomez was talking about Welington Castillo's pivotal fly ball to right field in the sixth inning that he chased down, calling off right fielder Colby Rasmus. Gomez took a peek at Rasmus as he was running the ball down, though, and by the time he looked back up to the ball, he had overrun it -- a miscue, but not officially an error.

HOUSTON -- Welington Castillo and Jake Lamb launched back-to-back homers off reliever Pat Neshek to start the 10th inning and send the D-backs to their sixth consecutive win, 6-4, over the Astros in the series opener Friday night at Minute Maid Park.

Jason Castro's blasted a three-run homer in the fifth and Carlos Correa followed with a solo shot two outs later to give Houston a 4-1 lead. Arizona, which improved to 50-51, rallied with a pair in the sixth after David Peralta and Castillo began the inning with back-to-back hits, and Peralta delivered an RBI single off Tony Sipp in the seventh to tie the game.

HOUSTON -- Astros first baseman Marwin Gonzalez wasn't trying to make up for what was nearly a disastrous baserunning gaffe only moments earlier, when he didn't run hard out of the box and reached first only after D-backs pitcher Daniel Hudson dropped the ball for an error to extend the inning.

With walk-off hero Jason Castro at the plate and a chance to win the game for the second straight night for the Astros, Gonzalez was eager to get into scoring position and wound up getting caught when he strayed too far from first, a play that punctuated the Astros' 6-4 loss to the D-backs at Minute Maid Park.

Chandler Rome is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

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The best Deadline acquisition? Carlos Gomez

New Houston outfielder potentially worth two additional wins in tight AL West race

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Gomez, Fiers on trade to Astros 3:01

Carlos Gomez and Mike Fiers talk about being traded to the Astros by the Brewers in a six-player deal

By Mike Petriello
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MLB.com |

Now that the 2015 Trade Deadline has passed with a flurry of deals and big names in the week leading up to July 31, which single deal was the best fit of the week? There's no obvious right answer to this, of course. If you're a Toronto fan who doesn't care about prospect cost, then the Blue Jays getting David Price and Troy Tulowitzki for a late run was exhilarating. The Royals found their long-needed ace in Johnny Cueto; the Dodgers rebuilt a pitching staff with Alex Wood, Mat Latos, Luis Avilan, and Jim Johnson (not to mention top prospect Jose Peraza) for essentially nothing more than cash, considering they'd only signed Hector Olivera a few months ago.

Those are all fine options, and your team allegiances probably play a big part in which one you like. But what, we say, about the deal that brought the Houston Astros Carlos Gomez and Mike Fiers? It's got everything you want in a Deadline deal, doesn't it? The Astros haven't been more than two games ahead of or behind the Angels since July 8, making every game vital. Both are upgrades over what they're replacing, Gomez particularly, and neither player is a rental, with Gomez signed through 2016 and Fiers through '20. It's the right kind of deal, from the most fascinating team possible -- the Astros, of course, haven't had a winning season since 2008.

HOUSTON -- The Astros made a strong push at landing front-line closers Aroldis Chapman of the Reds and Craig Kimbrel of the Padres right up to Friday's non-waiver Trade Deadline, which ultimately passed without them being able to pull the trigger on another deal.

If the Astros were able to bring either to Houston, it might have made them the favorite to win the American League, but they still bettered their chances in the days leading up to the Deadline by adding left-hander Scott Kazmir last week and outfielder Carlos Gomez and starter Mike Fiers from the Brewers on Thursday.

D-backs integral in Hinch finding way to dugout

Astros manager was on front-office track until unexpected offer in Arizona

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Hinch on the state of the Astros 0:53

7/31/15: Astros manager A.J. Hinch discusses the state of his club following the recent acquisitions of Carlos Gomez and Mike Fiers

By Chandler Rome
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MLB.com |

HOUSTON -- The calculated, cerebral facets of running an organization -- building a roster, mingling in a front office -- appeal to Astros manager A.J. Hinch, a Stanford graduate with a psychology degree. In fact, after seven years as a big league backstop, he sought to become a general manager.

Until a 2009 lunch date with then-D-backs GM Josh Byrnes that led to Hinch becoming the team's manager, he was on that trajectory.

Fan at Astros game taken to hospital

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By Chandler Rome
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MLB.com |

HOUSTON -- A male fan laid unresponsive for more than 10 minutes in the stands before the Astros' 6-4 victory over the D-backs on Friday and was transported from Minute Maid Park to a local hospital, according to an Astros spokesman.

The fan was surrounded by paramedics and first responders, who appeared to be giving him chest compressions before he was transported.

Castro walks off Astros for sweep of Angels

7/30/15: Jason Castro cranks a walk-off three-run homer in the 9th inning, sending the Astros to a 3-0 win over the Angels

By Alden Gonzalez and Chandler Rome
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MLB.com |

HOUSTON -- Jason Castro, who came into his ninth-inning at-bat with six hits with runners in scoring position this season, blasted a three-run walk-off home run to complete the Astros' sweep of the Angels with a 3-0 win Thursday night, giving Houston a two-game lead in the American League West.

Castro turned on Fernando Salas' 1-2 pitch to dispatch it into the right-field seats for the Astros' second walk-off home run of the season. Salas entered the game with two outs in relief of Jose Alvarez and surrendered a single to Marwin Gonzalez before Castro ended the game.

Gomez, 29, is a right-handed-hitting center fielder who was batting .262 with eight homers and 43 RBIs in 74 games for the Brewers. He's a career .260 hitter with 99 homers and 387 RBIs in a nine-year career with the Mets (2007), Twins ('08-09) and Brewers ('09-15).

Astros' bold moves show future is now

Astros GM Jeff Luhnow talks about acquiring Carlos Gomez and Mike Fiers from the Brewers in exchange for a package of prospects

By Richard Justice
/
MLB.com |

HOUSTON -- The day ended for the Houston Astros with one of those electrifying moments that makes the whole incredible ride feel magical. If things work out a certain way for this team, players and coaches might look back on Thursday and see it as another sign that something special is happening.

Catcher Jason Castro's three-run home run in the bottom of the ninth inning delivered a 3-0 victory that completed a three-game sweep of the Angels. With the sweep, the Astros -- a team that averaged 104 losses the past four seasons -- are 58-45 and leading the American League West over the Angels by two games.

HOUSTON -- The Astros spent nearly the entire first half of the season in first place with a roster that saw a steady influx of young players, including hotshot rookies Carlos Correa and Lance McCullers Jr. Adding some veterans to the mix prior to the Trade Deadline can only bolster Houston's chances in the second half.

Moments after Jason Castro's walk-off homer to polish off a three-game sweep of the Angels on Thursday night at Minute Maid Park with a 3-0 win, Astros players said they welcomed the latest move -- a trade with the Brewers that landed outfielder Carlos Gomez and right-hander Mike Fiers in exchange for four prospects.

Hinch will ease Lowrie back into full action

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Lowrie's solo homer 0:47

4/27/15: Jed Lowrie sends a solo homer to right to give the Astros a 1-0 lead

By Chandler Rome
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MLB.com |

HOUSTON -- The return of Jed Lowrie to a jumbled Astros infield will be a gradual one, according to manager A.J. Hinch, who will try to balance four first basemen jockeying for playing time now that Lowrie occupies third.

Though Hinch said Lowrie, who started Thursday's series finale hitting fifth and playing third base, won't play every day initially, he maintained the best Houston lineup contains the eight-year veteran infielder who had been sidelined since late April with a torn ligament in his right thumb.

McCullers pitches Astros back into first place

7/29/15: Lance McCullers strikes out five, allowing five hits over seven innings of one-run ball against the Angels

By Alden Gonzalez and Brian McTaggart
/
MLB.com |

HOUSTON -- The Astros moved into sole possession of first place in the American League West for the first time since before the All-Star break, beating the Angels, 6-3, on Wednesday night at Minute Maid Park, behind a terrific outing from rookie Lance McCullers.

McCullers (5-3) gave up a run in the second inning before getting into a groove and setting down 15 of the final 17 batters he faced. In the meantime, the Astros chipped away, taking a 2-1 lead in the fifth on RBIs by Colby Rasmus and Jose Altuve. Preston Tucker would then homer in the sixth, and Jon Singleton blasted his first of the year in the seventh to make it 4-1.

Ranging to his right, Altuve dove for C.J. Cron's slow roller behind second base, secured the ball and fired a throw across his body, as he was falling down, to record the first out of the seventh inning and preserve rookie Lance McCullers' impressive outing.